Economic Potential of Neem

The demand of Neem products are increasing day by day. Agriculture sector is now becoming a major consumer of the neem products viz. Neem oil, neem cake and neem based pesticides. Being eco-friendly and natural source of phyto-chemicals and nutrients it is preferred to apply Neem manure and pesticide in agriculture especially in organic farming all over the world.

Neem in Health

Neem is widely used for treating fevers. It has anti-pyretic (fever-reducing) property. In addition, neem products also have analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory effects, i.e. for most common ailments neem can provide cheap, easily-available and local entrepreneurship medicines. A wide multitude of diseases or conditions can be successfully treated with various elements of neem.

Neeming India

Neeming India is the second phase of the Foundation’s ‘Greening India with Neem’. It all started in 2005 which was when the need was felt for a concerted effort was required hence ‘Greening India with Neem’ campaign was initiated. It set a target of 10 Crores Neem trees to be planted all across the Indian landscape.
In May 2015, development that is an equivalent to crossing a milestone in its journey in establishing Neem on a big scale.

‘Festival of the Neem Tree’ to be celebrated’

Using Neem for health and happiness, chanelling cosmic energy to heal varied ills are just some of the wonderful things that you can see and learn at the ‘NEEM DAY‘ celebrations

‘NEEM DAY‘ is celebrated on the 1st day of the month of Chaitra, Gudi Padwa. The wonder tree of India, Neem (‘kadu nimba’ as it is known in Maharashtra), is accorded much significance during this festival. In many homes Neem and Zendu leaves are tied on the doors as ‘torans’. At dawn everybody has to compulsorily chew some Neem leaves to start the New Year in a healthy way, a practice that has prompted the dedication of Gudi Padwa as ‘Neem day‘.

Neem in Agriculture

Using neem derivatives for managing pests is a non-violent approach to controlling pests. Neem products work by intervening at several stages of the insect’s life. They may not kill the pest instantaneously but incapacitate it in several ways. Neem very subtly employs effects such as repellence, feeding and ovipositional deterrence, growth inhibition, mating disruption, chemo-sterilization, etc.

Neem & Environment

Neem is extremely beneficial to save the environment from pollution; since its in-florescence is purifying ‘with its feathery crests tossing fifty feet into the sky’ neem is a veritable “Kalpataru” for giving healthy environs. Like other trees, it exhales out oxygen and keeps the oxygen level in the atmosphere balanced. Neem also helps in restoring and maintaining soil fertility which makes it highly suitable in agro-forestry.

Neem Tree - Wonder Tree

The various parts of this tree have many uses that aptly give neem its name. The earliest documentation of neem mentioned the fruit, seeds, oil, leaves, roots and bark for their advantageous medicinal properties. Every part of this plant finds use as medicine. Neem leaves contain appreciable amount of protein, minerals and carotene and adequate amount of trace minerals except zinc.

Neem Activities

NRTDC

Neem Research and Technology Development Center.
The centre provides information of scientific methods of neem collection, processing and its application in agriculture.

Neem Awareness

Neem Foundation carried out various activities like field demonstrations, trainings, village meetings and poster pasting in the rural areas for more than decades to popularise the benefits of the neem in agriculture.

Organic Certification

Neem Foundation has been appointed as Regional council by National Centre of Organic Farming, Department of Agriculture and co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. Of India, to guide local organic farmer’s.

Neem Nursery

Neem is propagated by seed, cuttings and root suckers but seed is the most viable method of propagation. Viability of the neem seed remains for very short period hence it is recommended to use yellow ripe neem fruits.

Greening India with Neem

Greening India with Neem is about giving people a choice to act. It is a growing movement in more ways than one ! All around us there is talk that our planet is in crisis…that we are destroying and polluting our way to a global catastrophe.

Projects

In July 1999 the NOVOD Board(Min. of Agriculture, GoI) invited the Foundation, as one of two NGO’s and nine premier Government Institutes to be part of the National Neem Network to implement a National Programme on Neem.

Seminars & Workshops

Over the years, the Foundation has conducted the various Seminars, Workshops, Meets on Neem. Demonstration of various neem processing and machineries was arranged & the delegates showed great interest.

Visitors

National and international visitors visited and trained at NRTDC, Gondkhairy. Delegates from Nigeria, Cameroon, Austria, Japan, France and many Africans countries visited and participated in training programs.